News

News

Three Tufts-owned storefronts sit empty, community pushes for local tenants

By Emily O'Hearn | November 25

Within the next few years, Tufts is poised to own three retail spaces along the 700-yard stretch of Boston Avenue between College Avenue and Winthrop Street. Two existing properties — the recently vacated Starbucks location in the Joyce Cummings Center and a property by the intersection of Winthrop Street and Boston Avenue — are currently empty. The third upcoming retail space will be located on the ground floor of the new Boston Avenue dorm.

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Local

Medford to launch the second round of Project: Pop-Up Medford

By Sophie Herron | November 24

The second round of Project: Pop-Up Medford will transform 348 Boston Ave. into a shared retail space for three small businesses from November 2025 to January 2026. The project — a collaboration between the City of Medford, Tufts University and retail incubator consulting firm UpNext — provides microenterprises with the opportunity to promote their work, try new business models and learn how to operate a retail storefront.

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University

Office of Public Safety issues advisory against Somerville massage therapist due to inappropriate conduct by owner

By Julian Glickman | November 21

The Tufts Office of Public Safety has advised members of the Tufts community to avoid Soarbody Therapeutics, a sports massage therapy business in Somerville, due to inappropriate behavior by its owner, Sam Peck.

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University

Students, faculty raise issue with lack of professional cleaning services in on-campus houses

By Zach Halverstam and Josh Litvak | November 21

The Office of Residential Life & Learning ended its use of professional cleaning services in on-campus apartments and woodframe houses over the summer, requiring students and theme house managers to clean the residences themselves. The change, which was announced to students living in these houses in an August email, has led some students and faculty advisors to raise concerns about the burden on residents.

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University

Tufts to create Women’s Health and Menopause Initiative following $4 million donation

By Julian Glickman | November 21

Chair of the Tufts Board of Trustees Jeffrey Moslow (A’86) and his wife, Linda Moslow, made a $4 million donation to establish a Women’s Health and Menopause Initiative at the university, aiming to promote a more holistic approach to medical care for women and advance the under researched field.

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Local

Tensions grow between Medford City Council, Mayor as Salem Street zoning vote again postponed

By Jones Millstone-Rivo | November 21

The Medford City Council again postponed a final decision on a proposed amendment to the city’s rezoning plan regarding the intersection of Salem and Park Streets in its Tuesday meeting. The amendment, supported by Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn, would reclassify the area as lower-density MX-1 rather than the current MX-2 designation.

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Local

Kamala Harris visits Medford on ‘107 Days’ book tour

By Julian Glickman | November 20

Former Vice President Kamala Harris held a talk in Medford’s Chevalier Theatre on Saturday as part of her “107 Days” book tour. 

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University

TEDxTufts introduces new ‘Spotlight’ format for fall event with community health department

By Amelia Sammons and Arinze Ezem-Osakwe | November 20

TEDxTufts, in collaboration with the Tufts Department of Community Health, hosted its first-ever Spotlight event on Sunday. The new format, which TEDxTufts hopes to make annual, featured brief lectures by 10 students followed by a panel discussion with three community health experts.

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Local

Report highlights systemic gaps in Somerville special education

By Carly Cohen | November 20

The Somerville Special Education Parent Advisory Council released a report in September outlining significant concerns within Somerville Public Schools’ special education programming.

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Local

Somerville City Council passes resolution supporting statewide investment in public colleges, universities

By Estelle Anderson and Niki Wang | November 20

The Somerville City Council unanimously passed a resolution on Oct. 23 in support of the DRIVE Act, a statewide initiative that would allocate $200 million in funding for public colleges and universities throughout Massachusetts. 

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Local

Interim superintendent Galusi shares report with Medford School Committee, outlines focus on consistency and belonging

By Ananya Shah | November 19

At a Medford School Committee meeting on Oct. 20, Interim Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Galusi presented her transition and entry findings report, highlighting the need for greater consistency — particularly regarding bureaucratic structures, greater coherence and a deeper sense of belonging across the district. Her findings emphasize the need for Medford Public Schools to strive for these goals as it navigates a leadership transition, facility needs and a major strategic planning process already underway.

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University

Tufts expands Master’s programs in Public Health and Nutrition

By Tvisha Goel | November 18

Tufts University has expanded its master’s programs in both public health and nutrition, offered through Tufts University School of Medicine and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, respectively.

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University

Greek Life on campus forced to adjust due to new administrative restrictions

By Alex Boyle and Dariush Raissi | November 17

Multiple Greek life organizations at Tufts University have had their houses’ basements closed this semester due to requests from Fraternity and Sorority Life. Greek life has recently also seen an increased amount of regulation and monitoring, with two fraternities — Delta Upsilon and the ATO of Massachusetts— being on some form of probation. This has hindered some organizations’ abilities to host events. 

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Local

Medford City Council approves divestment ordinance, pushes Salem Street vote for next week

By Julian Glickman and Josué Pérez | November 14

The Medford City Council approved its Values-Aligned Local Investments Ordinance on Wednesday, overriding a mayoral veto. The body also voted to postpone a vote to reconsider an element of the Salem Street Corridor District rezoning project until next week.

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News

TCU Senate to launch campuswide survey to assess student experience

By Shayna Levy | November 14

The Tufts Community Union Senate Administration & Policy Committee is releasing a survey intended to provide a comprehensive understanding of the student experience at Tufts. The survey is intended to “encompass the entirety of the student experience here at Tufts,” with questions spanning dining, academics, facilities, residential life and campus culture, according to Administration & Policy Committee Chair Spencer Kluger, a sophomore.

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University

SMFA professors of the practice bargaining surpasses 18-month mark as administration sends update to students

By Eli Brigham | November 13

An email was sent to all Tufts students on Oct. 31 about disagreements with the professors of the practice at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts, as negotiations over a collective bargaining agreement enter their 18th month.

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University

Tufts sees slight dip in international enrollment amid national decline

By Angela Palma | November 13

Last month, The New York Times reported a 19% decline in international student travel to the United States this August compared to last year. At Tufts, the percentage of international students across all degree programs decreased from approximately 15% in fall 2024 to 14% in fall 2025. In particular, the number of Tufts-sponsored F-1 and J-1 student visas dropped by roughly 3.6% from last year.

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University

SMFA Student Government Association holds elections

By Carlos Del Cañal Fernández | November 13

The School of the Museum of Fine Arts Student Government Association at Tufts held elections for three positions last week for the roles of SGA president, freshman representative and community development lead. The elections for all other positions took place last spring. 

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Local

Medford Public Library to launch new digital database

By Zahra Brady and Jessica Michael | November 13

The Medford Public Library plans to build a digital database of its content following approval by the Medford City Council in late October. A soft launch of the database will be published early in 2026. 

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Local

Jake Wilson elected Somerville mayor, three ballot measures pass on Election Night

By Anika Parr and Alexandra Tse | November 12

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, Jake Wilson was elected mayor of Somerville, earning 54.26% of the vote over Willie Burnley Jr. Voters also weighed in on three Somerville ballot questions — all of which passed — as well as a number of city council and school committee races.

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